Range Hood With Integrated CO Monitor

ABSTRACT

A range hood having a carbon monoxide sensor positioned therein is provided. The vent fan of the range hood is activated upon the detection of carbon monoxide so as to increase the ventilation of the cooking area. A visual and/or audible alarm may also be provided. If carbon monoxide levels increase or persist, the range hood may increase the speed of the vent fan to provide additional ventilation. Continued presence of carbon monoxide will result in the sounding of a warning. Interface to external warning devices and systems is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/741,715, filed Dec. 2, 2005, the teachings anddisclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties byreference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to consumer or commercial appliances,and more particularly to a range hood or over-the-range microwave oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Accidental Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning is a growing issue. Every yearhundreds of people are sickened and several deaths occur due to CarbonMonoxide poisoning, principally from improperly vented or maintainedappliances. Ten States now require the installation of CO alarms inresidential new construction and several metropolitan areas, includingChicago and New York City, require CO alarms in all residentialdwellings.

Holiday cooking has been identified as a common cause of non-lethal COpoisoning. This may be the result of extended cooking in poorlyventilated areas and/or with poorly maintained equipment. This resultsin elevated CO levels, causing residents to report flu-like symptoms(headaches, nausea, fatigue etc.) which are indicative of low level COpoisoning. Since holiday cooking often occurs over several hours, evenvery low levels of CO can result in these symptoms.

Previous systems for venting the CO that results from cooking do notadequately address the long term, low level exposure that can result inthe low level CO poisoning. One such system is described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,920,874, to Siegel, entitled Intelligent Ventilating Safety RangeHood. This system is capable of sensing CO and turn on the range hoodventilating fan when CO is detected above a certain minimum level.However, if the initial fan speed does not eliminate the hazardouscondition, and even if the CO levels rise but remain below 35 ppm,typically because the cooking activity continues to produce CO, the fanspeed is not increased. Indeed, the system of Siegel '874 does not takeinto account to duration of the exposure whatsoever, and provides noalarm unless the CO level rises above 35 ppm. Indeed, even when theSiegel '874 system does provide an alarm, it is only a local alarm inthe range hood, which could result in confusion in homes with COdetectors installed because these detectors may not sound at all. Thismay result in occupants thinking that the range hood or their COdetectors are malfunctioning and not take appropriate action. As aresult, a person could continue to suffer from low level CO poisoning.

There exists, therefore, a need in the art for a range hood orover-the-range microwave oven that can detect the presence of carbonmonoxide, dynamically exhaust it in order to avoid low level COpoisoning, and provide adequate alarming an notification of thehazardous condition.

Embodiments of the invention provide such an appliance. These and otheradvantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features,will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an embodiment of the present invention provides anew and improved consumer or commercial appliance that overcomes one ormore of the problems existing in the art. More particularly, the presentinvention provides a range hood or over-the-range microwave oven thatcan detect the presence of carbon monoxide and provide ventilationthereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention an Carbon Monoxide (CO)sensor is incorporated into a range hood or over-the-range microwaveoven to monitor CO levels. If elevated CO levels are detected, the COsensor will automatically activate the exhaust fan. If the hazardouscondition does not improve, the speed of the exhaust fan will beincreased in an effort to vent the CO. If the hazardous condition,including persistent low levels of CO, persists, the CO sensor transmitsa CO alarm activate signal to the external CO detectors in the residenceto cause them to sound their alarm. Additional information may also besent over a gateway for a smart home system.

Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a gas cooking range andventilation hood constructed in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to thoseembodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical consumer dwelling 10 having kitchen with arange (or cook top) 12. A range hood (or over-the-range microwave oven,etc.) 14 is positioned over the range 12 to provide ventilation thereof.This ventilation may preferably be to the exterior of the dwelling 10.

A CO sensor 16 is incorporated into range hood 14 and continuouslymonitors the level of CO in the cooking area. In one embodiment, the COsensor 16 includes an electrochemical CO sensor and controllercircuitry. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC),the health effects of CO depend on the level of CO and length ofexposure, as well as each individual's health condition. Theconcentration of CO is measured in parts per million (ppm). Healtheffects from exposure to CO levels of approximately 1 to 70 ppm areuncertain, but most people will not experience any symptoms. Some heartpatients might experience an increase in chest pain. As CO levelsincrease and remain above 70 ppm, symptoms may become more noticeable(headache, fatigue, nausea). As CO levels increase above 150 to 200 ppm,disorientation, unconsciousness, and death are possible.

In the event unusual or persistent levels of CO are detected that mayindicate a problem condition, the vent fan in the range hood 14 isactivated. The CO levels may be similar as those currently used toactivate a CO alarm in standard CO detectors installed today (UL 2034),e.g. an inverse relationship between the level of CO concentration andthe time duration of exposure. Alternatively, the threshold foractivation of the fan may be lower than the levels that would trigger aCO detector to sound its alarm, e.g. less than 30 ppm. Indeed,embodiments of the present invention activate the fan based on thedetection of CO or the detection of CO above a certain level, e.g. 2ppm.

Additionally or alternatively, a visual indicator 18 (e.g. message onLED display) is enabled to alert the resident that the vent fan isoperating to improve indoor air quality due to the detected COcondition. In one embodiment, if CO levels do not improve over time, thespeed of the vent fan will be increased automatically. If CO levels donot improve with increased air circulation, one embodiment of thepresent invention provides an audible and visual CO warning, advisingthe resident to move to fresh air. Such increase in fan speed andsounding of the alarm will occur even if the CO level does not increase,but remains at a low level for an extended period of time. Indeed, inone embodiment, the fan speed will continue to increase to its maximumuntil the level of CO drops.

If the home is equipped with RF enabled CO alarms 20, a signal is sentfrom the range hood 14 causing the alarms 20 to activate if the level ofCO does not improve. This, despite an increase in fan speed. The rangehood 14 will also signal for an alarm if it senses CO levels and timeduration that would require alarming under UL 2034. If the home isequipped with a smart or connected home system, such as the SamsungHomevita system, a text message alerting the homeowner to the conditionmay also be sent over the gateway.

The Range hood preferably would incorporate a long-life CO sensor 16,such as a sensor that utilizes the Invensys Monox™ self-test technology,and would preferably be field serviceable. In the event the sensor 16 isnot functioning, a visual and/or audible signal would alert thehomeowner to replace the sensor. The range hood would continue tofunction normally in this condition.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patentscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each reference were individually and specifically indicated to beincorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. An apparatus configured for installation over a cooking appliance,comprising: a vent fan; an exhaust in fluid communication with the ventfan whereby air drawn by the vent fan is exhausted through the exhaust;and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned therein; and wherein the COsensor turns on the vent fan when the CO sensor detects a presence ofCO; and wherein the CO sensor increases a speed of the vent fan when alevel of CO detected by the CO sensor remains above a predetermined safelevel after a first predetermined period.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the CO sensor is positioned to sense air in proximity to thecooking appliance.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CO sensorincreases the speed of the fan at predetermined intervals is the levelof CO does not drop below the predetermined safe level.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the CO sensor increases the speed of the fancontinuously until a drop in the level of CO is detected.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the CO sensor generates an alarm when thelevel of CO detected by the CO sensor remains above the predeterminedsafe level after a second predetermined period.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the CO sensor transmits an alarm activation signal toan external CO detector to activate its alarm.
 7. The apparatus of claim5, wherein the CO sensor transmits a text message to a smart homegateway.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a visualindicator, and wherein the CO sensor activates the visual indicator whenthe CO sensor detects a presence of CO.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the visual indicator is an light emitting diode (LED).
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audible indicator, andwherein the CO sensor activates the audible indicator when the CO sensordetects a presence of CO.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising an audible indicator and a visual indicator, and wherein theCO sensor activates the audible indicator and the visual indicator whenthe CO sensor detects a presence of CO.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the CO sensor is a self-testing CO sensor.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, further comprising an audible alarm, and wherein the audiblealarm is triggered when the self-testing CO sensor determines that it isnot functioning properly.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, furthercomprising a visual alarm, and wherein the visual alarm is triggeredwhen the self-testing CO sensor determines that it is not functioningproperly.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CO sensor turns onthe vent fan when the CO sensor detects a level of CO above apredetermined threshold.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the COsensor turns on the vent fan when the CO sensor detects a level of COfor a period of time.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the levelof CO is inversely related to the period of time.
 18. A method ofincreasing the safety of cooking with a gas cooking appliance,comprising the steps of: monitoring for carbon monoxide (CO) inproximity to the gas cooking appliance; energizing an exhaust fanlocated over the gas cooking appliance when the step of monitoringdetects the presence of CO; and increasing the speed of the exhaust fanwhen the step of monitoring continues to detect the presence of CO abovea predetermined safe level after a period of time.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising the step of providing an indication of thepresence of CO when the step of monitoring detects the presence of CO.20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of providing an indicationof the presence of CO comprises the step of transmitting a radiofrequency alarm activation signal to an external CO detector to cause itto sound its alarm.